Interfitted and interengaged nesting tables



Jan. 27, 1953 J. SHENKER INTERFITTED AND INTERENGAGED NESTING TABLES Filed March 10, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET l WE" IIH HIHh IIIH v llnml j 1 5* M IIIHIIHII (I m lh II E i it: H' n W'" H 62 i a 1 i w .L 4*. .f A H m E I Uh ll "1., l 62 i1? 52 6 i 2 {d 55/ i 50 {0 70 5 W"-"' .HHHIHH mull". f 6 5 HH HHIM IIHHWI' g a:

5/7 M INVENTOR. JOSEPH SHAW/KER ATTORNEY.

Jan. 27, 1953 J. SHENKER INTERFITTED AND INTERENGAGEZD NESTING TABLES 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 TLEIE. 4

Filed March 10, 1951 INVEN TOR. L/bsE/w/ SHFNKEA A TTORNE Y.

Patented Jan. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES FATNT OFFICE INTERFITTED AND INTERENGAGED NE STING TABLES at Claims.

The present invention relates to furniture genorally, and in particular it relates to such items as tables, benches, stands or the like. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to nested furniture articles, as tables, in respect of which my invention will be described and claimed hereinafter. While particularly applicable to tables or benches, my invention has other applications and is to be limited in scope only by the appended claims.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a master table, and a plurality of nesting tables of the same dimensions, wherein all but the master table may be knocked-down and supported, in such condition, in interlocked relation, above or below the master table and each other.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of table tops internally grooved along opposite side edges thereof on one surface, and having tongues extending along the same edges on the other surface thereof, the tongues of one table top being received within the recesses of the adjacent table top to slidably interfit one within the other.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a plurality of table tops each having on the underside thereof shaped female grooves extending lengthwise along a pair of opposite side edges, and having upwardly projecting and inwardly extending male tongues along the same pair of opposite side edges on the upper surface thereof, the grooves on the underside having an outwardly extending component and the tongues on the upper surface having a receding component of such dimensioning as to receive the extending components, whereby a plurality of such table tops can be slidably interfitted, with one thereof supporting and bearing the weight of the other.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a table top having an inwardly directed recessed trackway along opposite side edges along the underside thereof, and having upwardly extended and inwardly shouldered tongue components along the same opposite side edges at the upper surface thereof, the outline of the recessed trackway, in section, being similar to and slightly larger than the outline of the tongue in similar section, whereby the tongue readily interfits with the trackway in slidable relationship.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of table tops each one having shaped side flanges extending upwardly thereof along a pair of opposite side edges, the said side flanges being recessed in from the outer and lower corners thereof along the same pair of opposite sides to receive and interfit with the extended shaped side flanges of another table top.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a plurality of tables of identical length and width, only one of which has fixed support legs fixed to the outer side edges thereof, and the others of which have support legs swingable against the underside thereof within the side edges thereof to permit said other tables to be nested substantially flatly above and/or beneath the said one table.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a plurality of tables of identical size and shape, each having a flat top portion and a pair of opposite side components extending in part above the top and in part below the top, support legs for each table swingable flatly against the underside of the top between the side components and within the margins thereof.

Still other and further objects of the invention will in part be apparent and in part pointed out specifically in the following description of an illustrative embodiment.

In the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part hereof,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of article constructed according to and embodying the present invention, illustrating the sliding interfit of one nesting table with a master table;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the article, illustrating a plurality of nesting tables interfitted with one another below a master table;

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the underside of one of the nesting tables constructed according to and embodying the present invei tion;

Figure 4 is a part plan, part sectional view of a portion of the underside of a nesting table, with the leg components in extended position;

Figure 5 is a section on the line of Figure 3;

Figure 6 a section on line i1% of Fi ure i; and

Figure '7 is an enlarged section on the line ll of Figure 6.

In accordance the presen master table be of different structural and operational construction from the support legs of the nesting tables [2, I2. As illustrated herein, the structure of the table tops per se is identical.

Each table l0, 12 comprises a, body portion M of thin, fiat, rigid and self-supporting material as wood, ply-wood, fiber board, thin-section metal or the like, together with supporting legs therefor. The front and rear edges of the body I4 are seated in or secured to relatively thick and heavy bars [6, l6 of suitable material, as wood, metal or the like, with the upper edges of the strips l5 extending slightly above the level of body 14 as shown, or substantially flush therewith. The opposite longitudinal side edges of each body portion M are seated in side bars l8, 18 of the same thickness and material as bars l5, 16, it being noted particularly that bars I 8, it are of such height as to extend above bars I5, H5, so that while the lower edges of bars It, IS are flush, the upper edges 20, 25 of side bars l2, is project upwardly of bars l6, It. It will be readily appreciated that these peripherally located bars l6, 18, in addition to the purposes hereinafter described, also serve to support body portion i4 against sagging and prevent damage to the edges of the thin section material of which the bodies l4, M are formed.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, it will be seen that side bars l8, l8 are inwardly notched at their lower, outer corners 22, 22, and that the portions extended upwardly of bodies M are notched inwardly from the inner upper corners thereof, as at 26, 24. bar i8 is notched inwardly from diagonally opposite corners thereof. Moreover, the notching is of such character, that the notched extensions of the side bars of one table will be slidably received endwisely within the notched corners of the side bars of another table interfitted therewith as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Notchings 22, 24, as shown, may be V-shapcd in section, oppositely directed inwardly from both sides and opposite ends, of bars i8, E3, or they may be of rectangular section if desired, the desiderata in this connection being the provision of laterally outwardly extended tongues 32, 32 at the lower portion of side bars H3, 18, defining the lower boundary of notch 22, and the provision of laterally and inwardly extended tongues 35, 34 at the top of ribs l8, l8, defining the upper boundary of notch 24, the notches 22, 24 forming tracks or grooves along which the tongues 32, 34 of similarly shaped side bars l8, E8 of other tables may slide. The outwardly directed tongues 32, 32 at the bottom of and along the opposite sides of the table, and the inwardly directed tongues 34, 84 at the top of and along the same opposite side of the table permit the slidable interfit endwisely as illustrated in Figures l and 2. As seen in Figures 5 and 6, the depth of grooves 26, 24 is slightly longer than the length of tongues 32, 32 so as to prevent binding of the table tops to one another, when the tables are keyed into one another from the front or back. Ihis interflt is referred to herein as endwise slidability.

Grooves 22, 24 and tongues 32, 3 5 may be described as semi-dovetail in shape, but, as pointed out hereinabove, the particular shaping of the tongues and grooves may be varied within limits provided the tongues 34, 32 of one table top will extend endwise and slidably into the grooves 22, 24 of adjacently disposed tables.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, master table In other words, each side i I0 is provided with four downwardly extended legs 40, two on each side thereof adjacent the corners, which legs are screwed, bolted or dowelsecured at the upper ends to the outer sides of bars l8, l8 as indicated at 42, 42. The legs of the nesting tables l2, [2 are otherwise arranged, for reasons to be developed hereinafter.

As seen in Figures 3 to 7 inclusive, each nesting table I2 is also provided with four legs 50, 50. Legs 50, are paired at each side of table 12, and fixed at their upper ends to a flat cross-bar 52. Dowels 54, 54 are sunk through front and rear bars Hi, 15 into the ends of cross-bar 52, whereby the paired legs can be pivoted into position flatly against the underside of table top H (see Figures 3 and 5), or swung downwardly at right angles to top M (Figures 6, 7). Means are provided to lock legs 50, 50 in their down position, these means comprising an elongated floating rib 60 disposed transversely across the center of and on the underside of table top M, which rib is pivoted oil-center by dowels or pins e2, 62 extending into the ends of rib 60 through side bars i8, I3. A cut-out 65 is provided in a side of strip 60 whereby said strip can be engaged for manual actuation thereof. Rib 6D is of such length that, when leg pairs 55, are in the down position, rib 65 fits tightly between the cross-bars 52, 52 wedging legs 50, 50 against the inner faces of side bars N3, l8 (Figures 4, 6). As seen in Figure '7, cross-bars 52, 52 have cut-outs 65, 66 at the center thereof in from the top edge, to provide clearance between said cross-bars 52, 52 and dowels or pins -62, 62 on which floating rib is pivoted when the leg pairs are swung into the up and down positions thereof. To collapse nesting tables l2, l2, rib is pivoted about dowels 62, -62 and disposed flatly against the under side of top I2, whereupon the paired legs 50, 50 and cross-bars 52 may then be swung into their up position to lie flatly against the underside of top M, cross-bars 52, 52 resting against rib 88 (Figure 5).

Buttons 70 of rubber, metal or the like, are secured to the underside of cross-bars 52, 52, adjacent the inner side of legs 50, whereby, when the legs are infolded in their up position, as in Figure 3, the off-set ends will be engaged thereby to trap the legs in the up position.

In the nesting tables 12, l 2, it is important that the legs be disposable within the marginal edges of the side bars It, IS and front and back bars I6, is in order that the tables, when disposed flatly above or below one another or above or below the master table I 9, will nest flatly thereagainst and present a smooth unbroken appearance as indicated in Figure 2, when the ends and edges to the tables are aligned. Further, the legs of nesting tables l2, I2 should not extend beyond the lateral side edges thereof in order to pass freely between the legs 49, 40 of the master table Ill. As will be obvious, nesting tables [2, l2 may be endwisely interfitted with master table l0 below same, or above, and if desired two nesting tables may be endwisely interfitted immediately above or below the master table or another nesting table. The interfittability of tables according to the present invention will permit a great number of such arrangements.

Having now describe-d the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a master table and a nesting table for interengagement with the master table, horizontally extending bars secured to the tops of the longitudinal marginal edges of the tables, support legs for both tables, said tables having substantially the same length and width, the support legs for the master table permanently secured thereto and depending vertically therefrom at the outer side of the side bars, the support legs for the nesting table being permanently secured thereto on the underside thereof adjacent the inner side of the side bars and pivotal against the underside of the nesting table, interfitting and interengaging tongue and groove means on the master and nesting table whereby the nesting table may be releasably endwise interfitted and interengaged with the master table in flat-lying relation thereto.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the tongues extend lengthwise from front to back of each side bar inwardly of the tables, and the grooves extend lengthwise of each side bar from front to back and open outwardly thereof.

3. A master table and nesting table therefor, and support legs for the tables, the tables each having longitudinally extending side edge bar members secured to the longitudinal marginal edges of the tops of the tables, the edge bar members having a semi-dovetail tongue extending from front to back thereof on one face of th table, and a semi-dovetail groove extending from front to back thereof on the opposite face of the table, the support legs for the master table being immovably fixed thereto and depending vertically from the outer margin of the edge bar members, and the support legs for the nesting tabl are pivotally secured to the inner margin of the edge bar members thereof.

4. The table combination of claim 3, in which the edge bar members extend above and below the plane of the top of the table, and the tongues extend inwardly towards each other above the table and the grooves open outwardly of each other below the table.

JOSEPH SHENKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 792,427 Knudsen June 13, 1905 1,312,137 Schloss Aug. 5, 1919 1,956,265 Baker Apr. 24, 1934 2,540,849 Walker Feb. 6, 1951 2,545,269 Ford Mar. 13, 1951 

